NC elections board sets hearing on Easley campaign

GARY D. ROBERTSON,Associated Press Writer

Published: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 4:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 4:01 p.m.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign records will be scrutinized in a public hearing to determine whether Easley's campaign committee violated the law, the State Board of Elections announced Wednesday.

Board director Gary Bartlett said the elections board would meet Oct. 26 to examine evidence about The Mike Easley Committee as well as the state Democratic Party.

Board staff has been investigating Easley campaign records since the campaign changed reports after failing to disclose the use of a car. The board also is examining if free airplane flights for Easley exceeded donation limits.

The Democratic Party in July forfeited more than $24,000 in contributions that had been reported earlier this decade because of questions surrounding them. Nearly all of the donors have been identified as having flown Mike Easley around on private aircraft when he was governor.

The five-member board could reprimand the groups or clear them, issue fines or refer the cases to a district attorney for possible criminal charges. The board can subpoena witnesses and documents. The board also may offer immunity to witnesses.

The hearing's announcement comes more than four months after the elections board sealed the Easley campaign file because potential criminal penalties were involved.

"The work of our investigation has brought us to the point where it needed board attention," Bartlett said. Board chairman Larry Leake, who scheduled the hearing, didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

The hearing may provide the most details to date about activities surrounding Easley, a Democratic two-term governor who left office in January.

Easley and his wife, Mary, have been dogged for months about federal and state investigation activities surrounding the couple, including how Mary Easley landed a job at North Carolina State University while her husband was governor that ultimately paid her $170,000 a year. She was fired earlier this year.

Neither the Easleys nor Democratic Party representatives have been charged with any crimes.

State Democratic Party Chairman David Young said party officials "welcome a full, open and fair hearing to determine the facts as expeditiously as possible."

An attorney for The Mike Easley Committee and an Easley spokesman didn't immediately return phone calls and e-mails seeking comment.

<p>RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign records will be scrutinized in a public hearing to determine whether Easley's campaign committee violated the law, the State Board of Elections announced Wednesday.</p><p>Board director Gary Bartlett said the elections board would meet Oct. 26 to examine evidence about The Mike Easley Committee as well as the state Democratic Party.</p><p>Board staff has been investigating Easley campaign records since the campaign changed reports after failing to disclose the use of a car. The board also is examining if free airplane flights for Easley exceeded donation limits.</p><p>The Democratic Party in July forfeited more than $24,000 in contributions that had been reported earlier this decade because of questions surrounding them. Nearly all of the donors have been identified as having flown Mike Easley around on private aircraft when he was governor.</p><p>The five-member board could reprimand the groups or clear them, issue fines or refer the cases to a district attorney for possible criminal charges. The board can subpoena witnesses and documents. The board also may offer immunity to witnesses.</p><p>The hearing's announcement comes more than four months after the elections board sealed the Easley campaign file because potential criminal penalties were involved.</p><p>"The work of our investigation has brought us to the point where it needed board attention," Bartlett said. Board chairman Larry Leake, who scheduled the hearing, didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.</p><p>The hearing may provide the most details to date about activities surrounding Easley, a Democratic two-term governor who left office in January.</p><p>Easley and his wife, Mary, have been dogged for months about federal and state investigation activities surrounding the couple, including how Mary Easley landed a job at North Carolina State University while her husband was governor that ultimately paid her $170,000 a year. She was fired earlier this year.</p><p>Neither the Easleys nor Democratic Party representatives have been charged with any crimes.</p><p>State Democratic Party Chairman David Young said party officials "welcome a full, open and fair hearing to determine the facts as expeditiously as possible."</p><p>An attorney for The Mike Easley Committee and an Easley spokesman didn't immediately return phone calls and e-mails seeking comment.</p>